Matches for "Ron Burke"

This past week at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono featured some of the most extensive harness racing stakes action that we've seen so far this year. On Saturday and Sunday nights, Pocono hosted Pennsylvania All-Stars, Pennsylvania Sire Stakes, Stallion Series and Great Northeast Open Series races. Even though the weather didn't quite cooperate (again), the action was still scorching. Let's take a look at our top performers as we hand out the Weekly Awards.
PACER OF THE WEEK: RECLAMATION
What a streak this four-year-old mare from the Ron Burke barn has put together over the past few months. After finishing second in her first start of the season at the Meadowlands, she ripped off three straight wins there in various condition groups. She then arrived at Pocono and the winning continued. In featured condition paces for mares on May 21 and May 28, she captured victories with winning times of 1:50:4 and 1:50, the latter a career-best.
On Tuesday night, she was at it again in the $17,500 feature. In her previous victories at Pocono, she had shown versatility, winning once on the lead and once in come-from-behind fashion. On Tuesday night while leaving from post position #3 in a field of nine as a 1-9 favorite, Reclamation was sent to the front around the first turn by driver Matt Kakaley. She set honest fractions from there, quick but not out of control, and still held the advantage at the top of the stretch.
As has been the case with most of her victories during this streak, Reclamation didn't blow anybody away. Both Clear Idea and Sidewalk Dancer came at her late with closing kick. But Reclamation once again stood up to the challenge, holding off Clear Idea to win by a half-length in 1:51:2. This mare simply doesn't like to lose, as evidenced by her 13 wins in 21 career races. After her Tuesday night triumph, she is clearly at the head of the distaff class at Pocono.
Other top pacers this week include: Demi Hill (George Napolitano Jr., Chris Oakes), a filly who picked up her third straight condition won at Pocono in the slop on Sunday night, matching her career-best of 1:51:3 in the process; Beach Boogie (Simon Allard, Rene Allard), whose career-best 1:49:2 mile in a condition victory at Pocono on Saturday night was the fastest time posted this week; and Alii Nui (Marcus Miller, Erv Miller), a three-year-old filly whose victory on Saturday night in Pennsylvania All-Stars action gave hew two straight wins at Pocono, each of which came in 1:51:3, her career mark.
TROTTER OF THE WEEK: EXPLOSIVE BREAKAWAY
Sunday night's action at Pocono was highlighted by three divisions of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings, with each race carrying a hefty purse of $56,868. And you could have made the argument that the showcase horse coming into the night in those races was Osterc, the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes champion at age two and winner of stakes races in his first two starts of 2019 in impressive fashion.
Explosive Breakaway has been impressive as well, just maybe not against the same caliber of competition as Osterc. The three-year-old gelding trained by Fred Grant came into Sunday night with four wins and three second-place finishes in seven career races. He also won a non-winners of five condition at Pocono in his first start of the year by seven lengths on May 21. And, in the Sire Stakes race on Sunday, he found himself nestled in the pocket behind Osterc, who was a 1-2 favorite.
Osterc faced some heat on the front end from first-over Summit In Sight, but the fractions never got away from him. Still, as he rounded the final turn, he made a break of stride. That left Explosive Breakaway and Summit In Sight to battle it out from there. Driver Tom Jackson summoned more energy out of Explosive Breakaway, who trotted away from Summit In Sight to win by 2 ¾ lengths at 9-1. His winning time of 1:54:2 in the slop matched his career-best from his previous race.
Honorable mention on the trotting side this week goes to: Crystal Fashion (Tim Tetrick, Jim Campbell), who handled the field in the Great Northeast Open series with ease on Sunday night, coasting to a comfortable win in the slop in 1:53; Marseille (Ake Svanstedt driver and trainer), who made his maiden win a memorable won, capturing a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes race on Sunday night in 1:53:3, fastest time of the three divisions; and Frankie Mullins (Marcus Miller, Bruce Clarke), who followed up a win at Tioga with a condition victory on Tuesday afternoon at Pocono in 1:54:4, a new lifetime mark.
LONG SHOT OF THE WEEK: BLUE AND BOLD
This trotting gelding used the Stallion Series as the setting for his upset, winning a division on Sunday night with George Napolitano Jr. in the bike at 19-1, paying off $40.40 on a $2-win ticket.
DRIVER OF THE WEEK: MARCUS MILLER
The stakes competition brought out the best in Marcus this week, as he captured an All-Stars race with Alii Nui and a Stallion Series win with Nextroundsonme at odds of 7-1 and 8-1, respectively.
TRAINER OF THE WEEK: ANDREW HARRIS
Harris came up with a couple big victories on the Sunday night program, winning a Sire Stakes with White Tiger and a Stallion Series division with Blue And Bold.
That will do it for this week at Pocono, but we'll see you at the track. Feel free to e-mail me at jbeviglia@mohegansunpocono.com.
Jim Beviglia

Manalapan, NJ - S Class, a full brother to 2016 Trotter of the Year Marion Marauder, and So So De Vie, from the family of the sport's all-time richest pacer Foiled Again, were among the two dozen 2-year-olds sent out by harness racing trainer Ron Burke for qualifiers Monday morning (June 3) at Gaitway Farm.
Gaitway hosted the first of this month's three Monday qualifiers, which essentially was Breakfast with the Burke Brigade as all but three of the 2-year-olds in action were from the Burke barn.
S Class won his qualifier by one length over Ontopofthehill in 1:59.1. S Class, by Muscle Hill out of Spellbound Hanover, is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Crawford Farms Racing, Purnel & Libby, and Weaver Bruscemi. He was purchased privately.
"He was very good today," Burke said about S Class. "Ontopofthehill (a $250,000 Lexington Selected Sale purchase by Muscle Hill-On The Bright Side) is a fast horse that's going to learn to be a very good horse.
"This is a good group. All the trotters today are good horses, there's not a bad one in them. I've got a couple more, maybe two of the better ones, that aren't ready yet. But these are some of my better ones."
Burke's other 2-year-old trotters Monday included filly winner Sister Sledge (1:59.2) and colt Cupid Hanover, a $250,000 Standardbred Horse Sale buy who finished second to 3-year-old Zeus PV in his qualifier. Sister Sledge, by Father Patrick-Behindclosedoors, was purchased for $35,000 at the Standardbred Horse Sale and is owned by Burke Racing, Jason Melillo, J&T Silva-Purnel & Libby, and Weaver Bruscemi.
"Sister Sledge was really good," Burke said. "I was happy with all (four of mine) in there. Cupid Hanover is good. We're just trying to teach him to be patient and sit in a hole. If we let him roll, I think he'd be better."
Sister Sledge --Ken Weingartner photo
So So De Vie, a $15,000 Standardbred Horse Sale purchase by American Ideal out of Place Your Best (a half-sister to Foiled Again) finished second in his qualifier to Cattlewash, who stopped the clock in 1:58.3. Cattlewash, bred and owned by Bill Donovan, is by Somebeachsomewhere-Road Bet.
"Cattlewash has been great training down the whole time," Burke said. "So So De Vie is the best one we've had in (Foiled Again's) family since him. I'm really happy with him."
Colt pacer The Greek Freak won the day's fastest race for the 2-year-olds, in 1:56.1, despite a change in conditions that saw him face a strong headwind in the stretch. The Greek Freak, the nickname of NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo, is a son of Captaintreacherous-Thirty X and was purchased for $75,000 at the Lexington Selected Sale. He is owned by Burke Racing, Piatt Racing, J&T Silva-Purnel & Libby, and Weaver Bruscemi.
The Greek Freak --Ken Weingartner photo
Burke-trained filly pacers Merga Hanover and Shouldabeenatd were Burke's remaining winners in the seven qualifiers for the 2-year-olds.
Merga Hanover, by American Ideal-Magic Starlight, won in 1:56.4. Purchased for $150,000 at the Standardbred Horse Sale, she is owned by Thomas Dillon, Scott Dillon, Joe Sbrocco, and Donovan. Shouldabeenatd, by Sweet Lou-Breakheart Pass, won in 1:57.1 for breeder-owners Burke Racing and Weaver Bruscemi. Sailaja Deo finished second in the three-filly field.
Merga Hanover --Ken Weingartner photo
"Merga is out of a mare I used to train, Magic Starlight, and she's been good the whole way. She was very good today," Burke said. "Sailaja Deo is a nice filly. She had to cut it into the wind. I think she might be a little better than Shouldabeenatd, but Shouldabeenatd is a nice filly too out of a good mare. I was happy with the way she paced home. Another typical good (Sweet) Lou filly."
For Monday's complete charts from qualifiers at Gaitway, click here.
Ken Weingartner
Media Relations Manager
U.S. Trotting Association
www.ustrotting.com

Therl Hensley wakes up every morning expecting to discover the past three months have been a dream. But he pinches himself each day and comes to the same conclusion.
"The dream," he says, "is real."
Hensley is the owner of Fan Of Terror, a 7-year-old male pacer he claimed for $30,000 in mid-February that has gone on to win at the top harness racing level at Harrah's Hoosier Park, knocking off horses such as past Breeders Crown champion Beckhams Z Tam in the process. Fan Of Terror has raced 11 times for Hensley and posted five victories, three seconds, and $71,125 in purses.
"It's been an unbelievable experience," said Hensley, a 61-year-old lifelong dairy farmer from Daleville, Ind., about 50 miles northeast of Indianapolis. "I never thought we would own the kind of horse that would race in these kinds of races. We were looking for something to race in conditions and he's just got better and better. It's just been crazy. Every week is another thrill.
"I literally found the horse I wasn't even looking for."
Fan Of Terror is trained by Pete Redder, whose brother Ricky gets credit with finding the stable's new star.
"He followed him all the way through the claiming ranks," Redder said. "Once we took a look at him, we all were on board. He had such a powerful move against the horses he was racing against.
"I think we caught him on an upswing and he just kept getting better and better. He's getting stronger and stronger every week I train him."
Fan Of Terror began this year with a four-race win streak, capped by a victory in the $32,500 Claim To Fame Series final at Miami Valley. He was claimed by Hensley and Co. in his next start.
The first time the gelding raced for his new connections was nerve-wracking for Hensley. Fan Of Terror responded with a four-length win in the Open II at Miami Valley.
"I was so nervous over this because I never spent this kind of money on a horse," Hensley said. "I said, literally, I'm putting my future in your hands. I about bounced off the walls when he raced.
"I didn't think I could have a horse in the same race with these horses, let alone be competitive. It's been a whirlwind. It's the biggest thing I've ever been involved in."
Hensley was introduced to harness racing by his wife, Sharla, whose father raced a few horses over the years. Hensley later got involved in owning horses with a friend but focused on lower-level claimers before investing in Fan Of Terror.
"My wife is blown away," Hensley said.
He then recounted the story about when Sharla discovered Fan Of Terror's price.
"She said, how much did you spend on that horse? I said, I can't recall," Hensley said, laughing. "My wife said, I can read a program."
Fan Of Terror, a son of Western Terror-Fans Bikini, has won 33 of 112 career races and earned $313,278. He makes his next start Friday (May 31) in the $20,000 Open at Hoosier Park, where he is 9-2 on the morning line. Always A Prince, the winner of 20 of 25 career starts including the May 17 Open, is the 8-5 favorite. The race also includes Beckhams Z Tam and another past Breeders Crown champ, Freaky Feet Pete.
"He couldn't quite go with Always A Prince last time, but there is no shame getting beat by him," said Redder, a 42-year-old (celebrating his birthday today) who followed his father, Richard, into the sport and worked previously for trainer Ron Burke.
"He's got a really good personality, really good to be around in the barn. He just has a real cocky attitude. He thinks he shouldn't lose to anyone. He goes out with all the confidence in the world every time he races."
Hensley gets to spend a good deal of time with Fan Of Terror as he puts in several hours a day helping out at Redder's stable. A day that begins with him pinching himself.
"We enjoyed (the sport) before this happened," Hensley said. "This is just like 10 inches of icing on the cake."
Ken Weingartner
Media Relations Manager
U.S. Trotting Association
www.ustrotting.com

WILKES-BARRE PA – If you’re The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, and on Saturday night you have the world’s fastest two-year-old, the filly Warrawee Ubeaut (1:48.3), among the harness racing entrants in four $30,000 divisions of a Pennsylvania All-Stars race for three-year-olds – what can you do for an encore on Sunday?
Here’s the answer – you turn to the Hambletonian-class types, the three-year-old colt trotters, stage three $56,868 divisions of the second preliminary leg of their Pennsylvania Sire Stake, add five more $20,000 divisions of the group’s Stallion Series action, then also card two $30,000 races in the Great Northeast Open Series, one for mare pacers and one for trotters. That’s what you do.
The three Sire Stakes races are slotted in races three, five, and eleven, each having seven entrants, and each section has a winner from the first preliminary round, held at The Meadows on May 11. In race three Ginger Tree Skyr is the PaSS winner already, having posted a 1:55 upset at 26-1. Dan Rawlings will come east to drive the Explosive Matter colt for trainer Steven Cook as they begin from post two. Also highly-regarded in this division is Gerry (post six, driver Brian Sears), who broke at The Meadows in his seasonal bow but who won in 1:54.3 last year, and Marseille (post four, driver Åke Svanstedt), a maiden but who comes in for his 2019 debut off a good second in a qualifier.
Goes Down Smooth will start from post six in the fifth race for the formidable team of trainer Ron Burke and driver Yannick Gingras, who will be freshly-returned from the World Driving Championship in Sweden. In addition to winning in 1:54.3 in his PaSS contest at The Meadows, the Muscle Hill gelding won two starts back in the final of the Walner series at The Meadowlands, and he also shows a 1:53.4 victory at the Jersey miler. White Tiger, who won his seasonal debut at The Meadowlands in 1:54.2, could be the major danger, starting from post two for driver David Miller.
In the third Sire Stakes cut, Gingras appears to have a good chance to add a second feature tally as he steers the Cantab Hall colt Osterc from post five for trainer Per Engblom. He is undefeated in two starts this year, preceding his 1:55.1 win at The Meadows with a victory in the Dexter Cup at Freehold, and he is also the defending Sire Stakes champion this division. Guaranteed (post two, driver Tim Tetrick) has a 1:53.4 victory at The Meadowlands this year and certainly could contend on his best outing.
The Stallion Series events go gateward in races 1, 4, 7, 9, and 12, and they are full of young horses who are developing now – 17 horses in the five races show a win within their last two starts. All three winners in The Meadows StS races are here – Kate’s Massive (race 4), Raceace (race 7), and Lapped By Lindy (race 12); Kate’s Massive may be the most interesting in that he followed his StS win with a victory in the Currier And Ives Trot at The Meadows, and he is luring the winningest driver of all-time, Dave Palone, for an infrequent visit to Pocono.
The Great Northeast Open Series has divisional leader Tequila Monday in the mare pace and Crystal Fashion, winner of the Earl Beal Final here in 2018, in that gait’s open event; these two races will be further examined in a release tomorrow, along with the GNOS open pace at Harrah’s Philly earlier on Sunday.
PHHA / Pocono
Jerry Connors

Highly regarded Hambletonian hopeful Swandre The Giant begins his 3-year-old harness racing campaign Thursday (May 30) in the first round of the Indiana Sire Stakes at Harrah's Hoosier Park. The Ron Burke-trained colt is the No. 6-ranked horse in Meadowlands Racetrack announcer/analyst Ken Warkentin's second Road to the Hambletonian released Tuesday.
Last year, Swandre The Giant won nine of 12 races and finished second twice while earning $255,180. The colt won his first seven starts, all in Indiana, for trainer-driver Brandon Bates before being sold to the ownership group of Diamond Creek Racing, J&T Silva Stables, and Howard Taylor. He immediately tested the Grand Circuit, finishing second in his elimination of the William Wellwood Memorial at Ontario's Woodbine Mohawk Park and going off stride a week later in the $308,000 final.
He returned to Indiana, where he won twice on the sire stakes circuit before ending the season with a second-place finish behind It's A Herbie in the $220,000 ISS Super Final.
Swandre The Giant, who was trained by the now-retired Jimmy Takter for the second half of 2018, prepped for his 2019 debut with two wins in qualifiers at The Meadows. He competes in the first of two ISS divisions Thursday and is the 6-5 morning-line favorite in his group, with Ricky Macomber Jr. in the sulky for trainer Burke.
"We're looking forward to it," Diamond Creek Racing's Adam Bowden said. "He's come back well this year and filled out and matured. He had a few little issues last year and those all seem to be resolved. We went over him with a fine-tooth comb and everything looks good.
"He's a clean-gaited horse and he's got a good cruising speed. He's the kind of horse that gives you a lot of confidence. He's not a laidback horse, he's intense, but he knows what you're trying to do with him, and I think that's important. I give Brandon a lot of credit, he brought him along slowly and was able to teach him."
Swandre The Giant dominated in Indiana during his first seven starts, winning a maiden and six ISS events by a minimum of one length and an average margin of three. All seven of the races were at Hoosier Park, where his career-best time of 1:54.2 was two-fifths of a second off the track record for a 2-year-old male trotter.
"He was a homebody to that point, and I think shipping around might not have been best for him," Bowden said, referring to the trip to Canada for the Wellwood. "We might have asked a little too much of him and he wasn't ready for it mentally or physically, but we wanted to see what we had. We might have been better just staying in-state for the rest of the year and letting him develop against the competition there. But hindsight is 20/20."
Swandre The Giant is a son of Swan For All, who sired 2017 Horse of the Year Hannelore Hanover and 2017 Breeders Crown 2-year-old colt trotting champion Fiftydallarbill. Diamond Creek was among the owners of Swan For All during his racing career and remains part of the stallion's syndicate. The colt's dam, Adagio, was a Kentucky Sire Stakes champion in 2011.
In addition to the Indiana Sire Stakes and August's $1 million Hambletonian, Swandre The Giant is eligible to a number of races including the Tompkins-Geers, Canadian Trotting Classic, Breeders Crown, Carl Erskine Trot, and Matron.
"We have options," Bowden said. "He can race in Indiana, or if he proves himself up to it, he can go on to the Grand Circuit. You can make a lot of money racing in Indiana, but I think the ownership group is thinking bigger. We'll see how he does Thursday and Ron can make a decision about what's next. We'll let the horse tell us what he is."
Swandre The Giant is one of three Hambletonian-eligible trotters participating in Thursday's Indiana Sire Stakes races. The others are Lite Years Away (20-1 in the first division) and Sign Here N Here (12-1 in the second division). It's A Herbie, who is making his seasonal debut, is the 5-2 second choice in the second division, behind 2-1 favorite Airman Kelly. The purse for the first division, with a nine-horse field, is $48,000; for the second, with a 10-horse field, $48,500.
Racing begins at 6:30 p.m. (EDT). For complete entries, click here.
Ken Weingartner
Media Relations Manager
U.S. Trotting Association
www.ustrotting.com

WILKES-BARRE PA - Harness racing's fastest two-year-old ever, the filly Warrawee Ubeaut (1:48.3 at Lexington last year) makes her second start of 2019 in one of four $30,000 divisions of a Pennsylvania All-Stars event for three-year-old pacing fillies Saturday at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.
Warrawee Ubeaut, a daughter of Sweet Lou trained by Ron Burke for Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Phil Collura, and J&T Silva- Purnel & Libby, was voted champion of her category last year after notching seven wins in twelve starts and earnings of $646,995, the most of any two-year-old campaigning in North America in 2018.
So far Warrawee Ubeaut has only started once, winning a May 3 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes leg at Harrah's Philly in 1:51.2, so she will come into Saturday's race without a start in 29 days. Her regular pilot, Yannick Gingras, is over in Sweden competing in the World Driving Championship, so Matt Kakaley will get the driving assignment as Warrawee Ubeaut starts from the rail in the seven-horse eleventh race field.
The main opponent for Warrawee Ubeaut appears to be Philly Hanover (post three, driver Dexter Dunn), who is undefeated in three 2019 starts, and won the other Sire Stakes division on May 3 in 1:51.3, only a tick behind the clocking produced by Warrawee Ubeaut that day.
Abigail Dawn (post two, Dexter Dunn) is favored in the third race division, like all the other All-Star races seen-horse affairs, sporting a 4-for-5 record this year and winning in the Stallion Series at Philly in 1:51.2. Her main rival is Sylph Hanover (post five, Matt Kakaley), 2018 Sire Stakes champion and second to Philly Hanover at Philly.
Treacherous Reign is the early choice in the fifth race second division, despite drawing the outside post seven. She was victorious in her only start of the year, covering a sloppy oval at Philly in 1:52.2, with a :27.1 last quarter.
Dexter Dunn is scheduled to handle Treacherous Reign, and he has a third All-Stars favorite in the tenth race third division with Stonebridge Soul, who is starting from post five. Stonebridge Soul started her year with a win, then has had two seconds - one to Warrawee Ubeaut in the Sire Stakes, and then to Treacherous Reign in that one's seasonal bow at Philly.
ATTRIBUTION - PHHA / Pocono
Jerry Connors

LONDON...The field for the second harness racing edition of the $157,000 Camluck has been drawn and it was Ideal Jimmy drawing the coveted rail position while Rockin Ron, winner of last year's signature race, will leave right in behind from the trailing post eight.
Sintra, the lone local horse, has drawn post five for the husband-wife team of driver Jody Jamieson and trainer Stephanie Jamieson. The son of Mach Three will enter the Camluck Classic with a 6-1-0 record in his last seven starts.
Done Well, who captured the Confederation Cup in 1:50.2 in his last start, will be one of two starters for trainer Ron Burke. The son of Well Said has earnings approaching $600,000 and boasts a 2-1-0 record from three starts this season. He will line up from post two.
Below is the complete field in post position order:
1 Ideal Jimmy
2 Done Well
3 The Wall
4 Southwind Amazon
5 Sintra
6 Rockin Speed
7 Trump Nation
8 Rockin Ron
More than $400,000 in purses will be offered up on the program which will get underway at 6:55 p.m. The complete draw for Friday night's program will be held on Tuesday morning and will feature a powerful undercard which includes the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots divisions for three-year-old pacing fillies.
A quartet of City of London Series finals will also be contested that night with more than $100,000 up for grabs for three-year-old colts and fillies on both the trot and pace.
For more information, visit WesternFairDistrict.com.
Greg Gangle

Homicide Hunter and harness racing driver George Napolitano Jr. will be reunited this weekend for the first time since their win in October's Breeders Crown Open Trot and the two have proved to be a dynamic duo. Napolitano has driven the trotter 11 times in his career and posted nine victories.
"We get along good," said Napolitano, who will drive 7-year-old Homicide Hunter in Sunday's (May 26) $100,000 Maxie Lee Invitational for older trotters at Harrah's Philadelphia. "He's just a good ol' horse, it's pretty simple. He's got the heart to win. He always sticks his nose out. He makes it pretty easy for a driver."
Homicide Hunter, history's fastest trotter with a time of 1:48.4 set last year in the Allerage Open Trot at Lexington's Red Mile, is the 3-1 morning-line favorite in the Maxie Lee and will start from post three. He is making his third start of the season and enters off a 1:52.4 victory in a preliminary round of the Great Northeast Open Series at Philly on May 19.
Yannick Gingras, who is in Sweden for the World Driving Championship, drove Homicide Hunter in his first two starts this year for Ron Burke, who took over the training of the horse in April. The gelding was trained the previous three years by Chris Oakes.
Ten of Napolitano's prior drives behind Homicide Hunter came at Napolitano's home track, The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, including victories in the Great Northeast Open Series final and the Breeders Crown. It was the first Breeders Crown triumph for Napolitano, who has won more races at Pocono than any driver in history and was the North American leader in wins in 2010.
"(The Breeders Crown) meant everything," said Napolitano, who has 9,633 wins in his career. "I always wanted to win that big race at my home track, and he led me to it."
Homicide Hunter, owned by Crawford Farms Racing, has won 40 of 80 lifetime starts and earned $1.73 million in purses. Last year, he had nine victories in 16 races and received the Dan Patch Award for best older male trotter.
"He's a real laid-back, simple horse," Napolitano said. "He's just a cool animal. He's a true champion. He just does his job great."
Will Take Charge is the 4-1 second choice on the Maxie Lee morning line. He will start from post five with Scott Zeron driving for trainer Jeff Gillis. The 6-year-old gelding won the open handicap at Yonkers in his most recent start, May 11.
Guardian Angel As and Cruzado Dela Noche are both 9-2. Guardian Angel As will have Tim Tetrick in the sulky for trainer Anette Lorentzon and starts from post two. He enters off a preliminary round Great Northeast Open Series triumph on May 12. Cruzado Dela Noche, who won the Cutler Memorial on May 4, leaves from post eight with driver Brian Sears for trainer Marcus Melander.
The Maxie Lee Invitational is race 11 on Sunday's card at Harrah's Philadelphia. The track is also hosting the $100,000 Betsy Ross Invitational for older female pacers, the $100,000 Commodore Barry Invitational for older male pacers, and three divisions of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes for 3-year-old male pacers. Racing begins at 12:40 p.m. (EDT). For complete entries, click here.
Ken Weingartner
Media Relations Manager
U.S. Trotting Association
www.ustrotting.com

WILKES-BARRE PA - The northbound lanes of the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike will be a very busy place just before suppertime this Sunday, as horsemen competing in the big card at Philly in the afternoon will then be making their way 100 miles to The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, for third preliminary round harness racing action in the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes and Stallion Series for three-year-old trotting fillies.
In the fifth race first division, like the other pair worth $55,168, Sonnet Grace has been accorded early favoritism as she starts from post five for trainer Ron Burke and driver Matt Kakaley. The Muscle Massive filly, whose granddam is the great CR Kay Suzie, was victorious in a Sire Stake in her first start of the year, then miscued in a PaSS contest at The Meadows last week. Sonnet Grace will look to bounce back Sunday, with among her opposition Hallintheclouds, who also had a first round Sire Stakes triumph.
The tenth race second division will feature the second start of 2019, after a thumping 1:52 victory at The Meadowlands, of the Explosive Matter filly The Ice Dutchess, who was generally regarded as second-best filly in her class last year behind the talented Woodside Charm. A five-time winner with earnings of $424,540 last year, The Ice Dutchess will have to begin from the outside post seven for driver Scott Zeron and trainer Nancy Johansson; three horses who are already Sire Stakes winners this year - Asiago, Jazzy Fashion, and Antonia - may provide formidable opposition.
The eleventh race third division features the only double Sire Stakes winner in this group to date, the Possess The Will filly Millies Possesion, who is also undefeated in three career starts for driver Dexter Dunn and trainer Jim Campbell. Like The Ice Dutchess, the unbeaten miss must overcome the outermost starting slot in the seven-horse field; equine difficulty may come from Firedbylindie, a PaSS winner at The Meadows, and Beautiful Sun, a $480,000 yearling , who had three wins and two seconds at two and who makes her seasonal bow tonight.
In the Stallion Series competition, the two double winners in the group so far are the morning line favorites in the first and last of four StS sections, which are each going for $20,000. Keystone Abbey will start from post six in the fourth race section for driver George Napolitano Jr. and trainer Chris Beaver; Spring In Paris, 6-fot-7 this year, will be in starting slot number two in the twelfth race for driver Corey Callahan and trainer Steve LeBlanc.
ATTRIBUTION - PHHA / Pocono
Jerry Connors

WILKES-BARRE PA - The A Rocknroll Dance mare Reclamation - foaled in Pennsylvania out of a Swedish-owned mare, sold at Lexington, then starting her career in Ireland and Wales before racing at Harrah's Philly and The Meadowlands - added another location to her already-stuffed harness racing itinerary, coming to The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono for the Tuesday twilight card and promptly winning the $17,500 distaff pacing feature in 1:50.4.
Despite 25 days between races, driver Matt Kakaley had no problem moving Reclamation frontward after a :26.4 opener, reaching the half in :54 and the three-quarters in 1:22.3, then finishing strongly to remain 1¼ lengths clear of another well-traveled mare, the New Zealand import American Express N. Reclamation has a 5-4-1-0 record this year and an enviable 19-11-6-1 lifetime tab, with her earnings of $72,405 sure to be rising nicely in short order for trainer Ron Burke and owners W J Donovan of Delray Beach FL and Donal Murphy of Baltimore ... Ireland.
In a $15,000 trot, the Explosive Matter gelding Explosivebreakaway showed some of the talent of his full sister Phaetosive while easily winning in a lifetime best 1:54.2. Driver Tom Jackson moved the winner uncovered off the second turn and utilized the backstretch to go up to the leader and then go by, drawing off with a :28.2 last quarter to be seven lengths clear on the money. Fred Grant conditions the impressive sophomore, who has four wins and three seconds in seven lifetime starts, and he also co-owns him with Janice Rubin, Steve Katz, and Murray Brown.
The Credit Winner gelding Such An Angel, who doesn't always put it all together but when he does can be quite devastating, came within a fifth of a second of the fastest local trotting mile of the year with a 1:52.1 victory, 8½ lengths to the good. That time also was within a fifth of the lifetime best of Such An Angel, who's now taken two of his last three and has earned $295,308 for trainer Hunter Oakes and owner Sam Caruso Jr.
The only starter to be entered for an optional claiming price in the last race on the last day of the Pocono racing week, Rosy Outlook was haltered for $18,000, bringing the four-day raceweek's total of claiming investment to $419,250, a record for a week here this season; the total of 20 claims tied the weekly mark, now set in each of the last three weeks. For the year, 175 claims have resulted in $3,153,750 changing hands in the pursuit of winning racing stock.
PHHA / Pocono
Jerry Connors

WASHINGTON, PA, May 20, 2019 -- Tony Hall collected six wins on the 13-race card while Party At The Banks captured the $20,000 Open Handicap Trot against the boys in Monday's harness racing action at The Meadows.
Hall's victories came for six different trainers: Randy Bendis, William Daugherty, Jr., Rich Gillock, Cory Kreiser, Marcus Marashian and Dirk Simpson.
Party At The Banks endured a rough start, as she was parked the opening three-eighths before reaching the point. But the 5-year-old daughter of Break The Bank K-Beach Party As made it look easy from there, downing the pocket-sitting Classic Banker by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:54 for Dave Palone. Final Breath finished third.
Ron Burke trains Party At The Banks, who lifted her career bankroll to $180,423, for Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. It was her second straight win and fifth in the last seven starts.
By Evan Pattak
for the MSOA

London, May 20, 2019 -- Less than 24 hours after capturing the 41st edition of the Confederation Cup at Flamboro Downs, trainer Ron Burke has confirmed that Done Well will participate in this year's Camluck Classic on closing night, May 31st at The Raceway at Western Fair District.
The son of Well Said has now posted back-to-back harness racing wins following a 1:50.2 lifetime best over Flamboro and is sure to be a major threat in this year's $157,000 contest.
The gelding has more than $583,000 earned in his career and has started off his four-year-old campaign with a record of 2-1-0 from a trio of starts.
The Raceway is also proud to announce that the connections of Trump Nation and The Wall have accepted invitations to the Camluck Classic.
Trump Nation, who captured the 2018 edition of the Art Rooney, is fresh off a sizzling 1:49.3 winning effort at The Meadowlands. He will line up in the Camluck Classic for trainer Andrew Harris, himself a native of Ontario who now operates a large stable in New Jersey.
The pacer's sire, Betterthancheddar, competed in what was then the Molson Pace at Western Fair in 2013 finishing a strong second behind State Treasurer. Trump Nation has a 10-3-3 record from 22 starts in his career with $322,000 in the bank.
The Wall, trained by Nick Surick, is also confirmed for this year's Camluck Classic. The son of Somebeachsomewhere captured two legs of this year's George Morton Levy Series at Yonkers Raceway and has nearly $340,000 banked in his young career.
The five-year-old boasts a record of 1:51.2 taken earlier this year at Yonkers Raceway and will be handled by his regular pilot Joe Bongiorno on May 31st.
The other big news is that harness racing's winningest driver Dave Palone will make the trip to Ontario to drive Southwind Amazon in the Camluck Classic. Palone has put up amazing numbers during his career including more than 18,800 trips to the winner's circle. Perhaps the most impressive statistic is 29 consecutive seasons of at least 400 wins or more.
Below are the six confirmed starters at this point in alphabetical order. The other two starters will be confirmed this week.
Done Well
Ideal Jimmy
Sintra
Southwind Amazon
The Wall
Trump Nation
Camluck Classic night will also offer a powerful undercard that will include the Ontario Sires Stakes for three-year-old pacing fillies, a quartet of City Of London Series finals and several Preferred races.
Visitors will once again have a chance to enjoy the action from the confines of the giant Infield Tent, which was a hit with guests last year. It offers a unique vantage point and entertainment experience with fantastic food and beverage offerings for just $50 plus tax. Tickets to the Infield Event are currently on sale with limited tickets available.
The Party on the Patio will be back this year bigger and better than ever. Along with the delicious food and beverage offerings that will be available, popular local entertainers Sarina Haggarty and Connor Morand will be on hand performing their unique mix of new material and cover songs throughout the evening.
There will be many other contests and giveaways that night with more details to come. To stay up to date on the Camluck Classic and everything happening at The Raceway, visit www.westernfairdistrict.com.
Western Fair District

MAY 19, 2019 - A few raindrops did not put a damper on the 2019 Ontario Sires Stakes season opener Sunday, as the province's top three-year-old colts impressed harness racing fans gathered at Flamboro Downs for the Dundas oval's signature Confederation Cup program.
Both the trotting and pacing colts opened their sophomore season Sunday, with the trotters competing in a trio of Gold Series divisions and the pacers duelling in five Grassroots races. Only For Justice set the tempo for the evening in the first race, cruising along on the front end to a 1:56.3 Gold Series victory. Fan favourite, and last year's division champion, Forbidden Trade was three lengths back in second and Archway was well back in third.
"That's a big mile here tonight, a real fast back half," said driver Chris Christoforou. "He's very good gaited and good on the turns, he's a nice horse."
Campbellville, ON resident Christoforou piloted Only For Justice to the win for trainer Dany Fontaine and owner-breeder Ecurie Gaetan Bono Inc. of Montreal, QC. The win came in the Justice Hall son's first start of the season and was his second lifetime victory in Gold Series action. The gelding also captured a Gold event on the half-mile track at Grand River Raceway as a two-year-old.
"Last year, I'm not sure, but I think he might have had the season record on a half-mile track for a two-year-old gelding," said Christoforou, referring to Only For Justice's 1:57.3 score at Grand River Raceway. "I'd like to see him progress through the year, see what happens. He's got a good gait and he's very easy to manoeuver, he does what you want... so far, so good."
The second $72,267 Gold division went to Magical Journey and driver Stephen Byron, who hit the wire one-half length ahead of Northern Cavalier and driver Michiel Vanderkemp, matching Only For Justice's 1:56.3 clocking. Jumpshot and driver Daniel Dube rounded out the top three, all of whom took advantage of an early break by favourite Dream Nation.
"He raced great," said Matt Bax, who shares ownership of Magical Journey with his father, trainer John Bax, Gaelic Stable of Sharon, ON and Gordon Wright of Charlotte, MI. "We knew that he was really good in the turns, and he's good off the wings, so Steve was going to probably try to get him closer to the front - half-mile racing, if you have that ability you're going to go for it - and Steve gave him a great drive."
The win was the second of the season and the first in Ontario Sires Stakes action for Kadabra son Magical Journey, who made three Gold Series starts and three Grassroots starts at two.
"At the end of the year he was really starting to figure it out, when we put him away he was strong, so that's translated into this year," said Campbellville resident Bax. "He's a little taller, a little stronger, a little smarter, a little bit of everything."
The third Gold division went to Southwind Avenger, who battled to a one length victory over pacesetter Cool Clifford, hitting the wire in 1:55.4. JMR Pinarello was well behind the leaders in third.
Trevor Henry crafted the win, from the outside Post 8, for trainer Richard "Nifty" Norman and owners Melvin Hartman of Ottawa, ON, David McDuffee of Delray Beach, FL and Little E LLC of New York, NY. The E L Titan son also won a division of the season opener at two and never finished worse than third in six Gold Series starts during his freshman campaign.
Henry also captured the first $22,800 Grassroots division, guiding sophomore pacing colt Sportsline to his fourth straight victory for trainer Jim Watt of Clinton and Harry Parrott of Goderich, ON. The fan favourites cruised along on the front end to a 1:51.4 victory, four lengths ahead of Moonshine Kisses. Gambling Terror was third.
The other Grassroots divisions went to Priceless Beach in 1:54.3, Sugartown in 1:52.2, Missile Seelster in 1:55.4 and Better Than Cash in 1:55.2.
The Ontario Sires Stakes colts served as the opening act for the $188,500 Confederation Cup Final, featuring nine of the best four-year-old pacers in North America. In the main event, Done Well and driver Dexter Dunn reprised their successful front-end trip from the elimination and claimed the historic Cup with a 1:50.2 clocking for trainer Ron Burke of Fredericktown, PA, Weaver Bruscemi LLC of Canonsburg, PA, Jandt Silva Purnel and Libb of Delray Beach, FL and Wingfield Brothers LLC of Kenton, OH. Last season's OSS champion Jimmy Freight finished second and the other elimination winner, and Done Well's stablemate, Dorsoduro Hanover was third.
The sophomore trotting colts will continue their Ontario Sires Stakes Gold season on June 24 and the pacing colts will compete in their second Grassroots event on June 27, both at Woodbine Mohawk Park. The provincial program makes two more stops at Flamboro Downs in the fall, with the three-year-old pacing fillies and the two-year-old trotting fillies wrapping up their Gold season on Sept. 22 and Oct. 2, respectively.
Complete results for Flamboro Downs' May 19 Confederation Cup program are available at https://standardbredcanada.ca/racing/results/data/r0519flmdn.dat.
OSS Program Information
For rules, notices, Program changes, up-to-date point standings, race replays, and more, visit: www.ontariosiresstakes.com
OSS Program Administration
Ontario Racing

Chester, PA -- Despite being strung out early by rival Top Flight Angel, Crawford Farms Racing's Homicide Hunter ($4.40) had enough energy to fend off a late charge from All Champy in Great Northeast Open Series action on Sunday afternoon (May 19) at Harrah's Philadelphia, taking the day's featured $30,000 trot in 1:52.4.
In their first meeting since the 2018 harness racing Breeders Crown, Homicide Hunter (Yannick Gingras) and Top Flight Angel (Marcus Miller) -- one-two in last year's season-ending classic -- threw down immediately from the outset. The pair sprinted well clear of Scirocco Rob (David Miller) on the first turn, and Homicide Hunter battled to force Top Flight Angel into the pocket through a :27 first quarter. After pulling the half back to :56.2, Homicide Hunter again accelerated up the far side, inching away from Top Flight Angel past three-quarters in 1:24.3 but also preparing for the first-over challenge of All Champy (Simon Allard).
All Champy, who angled out from fifth at race's midpoint, worked to within a half length of Homicide Hunter at the eighth pole, but could get no closer at any point in the homestretch. Homicide Hunter earned the 40th win of his career by that same half-length margin over All Champy, while even-money choice Top Flight Angel finished third another 2-1/2 lengths in arrears.
Ron Burke trains Homicide Hunter, whose 1:48.4 effort at The Red Mile last October is the fastest ever from a trotter.
Tim Tetrick, who took the $14,500 pacing sub-feature with Rockeyed Optimist ($2.60, 1:51.1), led all drivers with a grand slam on the 14-race program.
The Jackpot Hi-5 carryover eclipsed the $30,000 mark after odds-on choice Crockets Cullen N ($3.80, Larry Stalbaum) won the fifth race and keyed an 8-3-5-4-1 combination which returned $98.90 on a 20-cent ticket. With multiple winners, the jackpot carryover for Wednesday's (May 22) fifth race has increased to $30,463.50.
First post for Wednesday's 13-race card is 12:25 p.m. EDT.
by James Witherite
Harrah's Philadelphia racing media.

Washington, PA – Four divisions of the Meadow Bright for three-year-old PASS trotting fillies were the feature races on the 14 race Meadows Saturday afternoon card.
Each harness racing division carried a purse of $42,600 with three prohibitive favorites going down to defeat.
Firedbylindie started off the upsets winning the first division in 1:54 for Matt Kakaley defeating the 1-5 favorite Asiago. The favorite moved to the front past the quarter for Yannick Gingras but was no match for the winner in the stretch eventually fading to fourth. Matter Of Fact and Magical Beliefs followed the winner home. Firedbylindie is a daughter of Explosive Matter trained by Ron Burke for Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC and Phillip Collura. Firedbylindie paid $15.80 to her backers.
Division two saw 3-5 favorite Sonnet Grace make a break in the first turn taking herself out of contention and opening the door for Jazzy Fashion and David Miller to secure the win in 1:54.1. Jazzy Fashion is a daughter of Donato Hanover owned by Fashion Farms LLC of New Hope, PA and trained by Jim Campbell. Nomo Volo finished second for Jeff Gregory with Grimmie Hanover and Dave Palone rounding out the trifecta.
Fashion Farms and Jim Campbell were not done yet as their undefeated homebred Possess The Will filly Millie’s Possesion captured the third division of the Meadow Bright. The only favorite to win a division, Millie’s Possesion is now 3 for 3 lifetime capturing her division in a lifetime best 1:54. The winning filly driven by Dexter Dunn held off Personal Paradise by a neck with Southwind Casha finishing third. Millie’s Possesion paid $2.80 to win.
The fourth and final division saw the 1-2 favorite American Kronos make a break going to the three quarters allowing Dexter Dunn and Antonia to upset the field. The second winner for Dexter Dunn and stallion Donato Hanover scored in 1:54.3 over Swizzle Sticks and Fade Into You. Trained by Nifty Norman, Antonia paid a healthy $28.20 to her backers.
On the undercard were four divisions of the PA Stallion Series for the sophomore diagonal gaited fillies.
Joplin opened the day’s festivities with an upset win n the first race for Christen and Jim Pantaleano stopping the timer in 1:56.2. Favorite Can’t Touch It made a break in deep stretch while not threatening the winner and finished 3 rd before being disqualified to 4 th place.
The second division of the Stallion Series went to Dawn of Glory for Yannick Gingras and trainer Julie Miller in 1:57.4. The winner sat a two-hole journey before collaring the front running favorite Altercation by a head at the wire.
Next up was a win for Keystone Abbey and Aaron Merriman for trainer Chris Beaver. The Cantab Hall filly led every step of the way scoring in 1:56.4 by a head over favorite Fraulein Blucher. Yannick Gingras returned to the winner’s circle in the 4 th and final division of the Stallion Series with the Steve LeBlanc trained Spring In Paris.
The pacing feature of the day was the Winners Over $10,000 life won by the hard hitting 7-year-old gelding Windsong Leo in 1:49.4 for Dave Palone and trainer Ron Burke.
Racing resumes Monday with a 1:05 post.
The live schedule changes this week with live racing Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and a special Friday night program starting at 5:00 PM with the 3-year-old C&G trotters back in action in the Currier and Ives Stake.
Mark J. Loewe
VP of Racing Operations

HAMILTON, May 17, 2019 - The eyes of harness racing will be locked on Flamboro Downs this Sunday evening for the 41st edition of the Confederation Cup.
The $188,500 event for four-year-old pacers is the highlight of an 11-race card with $538,551 in purses up for grabs. The field for this year's Confederation Cup is arguably the deepest since the race became an event for four-year-olds in 2015.
Trainer Ron Burke has won three of the last four editions of the Confederation Cup and enters with a strong one-two punch of eliminations winners Done Well and Dorsoduro Hanover.
Done Well (PP5, Dexter Dunn) turned many heads with a stunning 1:51.4 elimination victory over a 'Sloppy' track that was listed two-seconds off. The gelded son of Well Said is one for two this season and sports career numbers of eight wins and nearly $500,000 in earnings over 23 starts.
Dorsoduro Hanover (PP1, Matt Kakaley) won a wild and much-talked about second elimination for the Burke brigade. The gelded son of Somebeachsomewhere is the richest horse in this year's event with over $1.3 million in career earnings.
The list of accomplishments for Dorsoduro Hanover includes victories in the Breeders Crown, Adios Pennsylvania Sires Stakes Championship and a Dan Patch award.
The field for the Confederation Cup also includes O'Brien Award winner Jimmy Freight (PP2, Louis Philippe Roy). The Richard Moreau trainee overcame a post-eight starting spot in his elimination to make the final with a fourth-place finish.
Jimmy Freight was last year's Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final champion and is an 18-time winner with over $1 million in career earnings.
Sunday's Confederation Cup undercard is the start of the 2019 Ontario Sires Stakes season with a trio of Gold divisions for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings and five Grassroots divisions for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings scheduled.
Fans attending the Confederation Cup will have an opportunity to win a share of a racehorse. Flamboro Downs is once again teaming with TheStable.ca to giveaway five shares of a racehorse. The track will cover the training expenses of those five shares for the remainder of 2019.
Post time for Sunday's card is 6:55 p.m. The Confederation Cup has been carded as Race 10.
The full field for the $188,500 Confederation Cup is listed below.
1. Dorsoduro Hanover (Matt Kakaley/Ron Burke)
2. Jimmy Freight (Louis Philippe Roy/Richard Moreau)
3. Pretty Handsome (Jonathan Drury/Andrew McCabe)
4. American History (Sylvain Filion/Tony Alagna)
5. Done Well (Dexter Dunn/Ron Burke)
6. The Downtown Bus (Doug McNair/Jeff Gillis)
7. Rockin Speed (Billy Davis Jr/Jared Seekman)
8. This Is The Plan (Joe Bongiorno/Ron Burke)
9. Ghost Dance (Randy Waples/Nick Gallucci)
E: Courtly Choice (David Miller/Blake MacIntosh)
Mark McKelvie
Woodbine Entertainment,
Mohawk Park
Manager, Communications